Case for combs.



D. L. EDWARDS.

CASE FOR COMES.

APPLICATION FILED-ABBA, 1912 Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

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DUNCAN L. EDWARDS, 0F N EW YORK, N. Y.

CASE FOR COMBS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 4, 1912.

Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

Serial No. 688,413.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DUNCAN L. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Cases for Combs, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in cases for combs, and proposesa case which is especially applicable for use in connection with thetype of comb illustrated in my copending application, Serial No.688,412. A comb of this type embodies hollow apertured teeth and ahollow back which may be connected to a suction pump whereby dandruffand dust in the hair and on the scalp are drawn through the openings inthe teeth and into the interior of the comb, being carried away andtrapped in any suitable collecting device.

The case which forms the subject of the present invention is to befitted upon the toothed portion of the comb, and is provided withapertures at suitable intervals which are so arranged as to open betweenthe teeth of the comb, and with a number of closely associatedprojections, the office of which is to work up and liberate the dandruffor scaly growth on the scalp, the particles of dandruff or scale thusliberated being drawn through the apertures of the case into theinterior thereof and thence through the apertures of the comb into theinterior of the latter. Aside from this function, the case is intendedto serve as a protector for the teeth of the comb and to maintain thelatter in a clean and sanitary condition.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the case, showing its application to thecomb, the latter being illustrated by dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a centrallongitudinal section of the case per 86, Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view ofthe case; and Fig. 4 is a cross section of the case.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

The case is preferably made of flexible rubber and its outlinescorrespond to the outlines of the toothed portion of the comb. The caseis fitted upon said toothed portion and cooperates therewith. In theembodiment shown, the case is fashioned to inclose only the toothedportion of the comb, the upper end of the case being open and beingdevoid of any flap or closure device, although such a flap to embracethe back of the comb could obviously be provided if desired, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

The case is indicated generally by the numeral 1, and its side and endwalls are relatively thin and flexible, tending to frictionally grip thetoothed portion of the comb when the case is fitted thereon and therebyto hold the case in position with relative security. The base 2 of thecase is thickened in order that it may not be sub ject to undue wearfrom the internal pressure of the comb and the external pressure of thescalp. Said base has a flat outer face which is provided either whollyor partly throughout its extent with closely as sociated rubberprojections 3, which, in the embodiment shown, are, of course, integralwith the case. These projections are of the same nature as theprojections provided in the well-known rubber flesh brushes, beingflexible, yet having sufficient resiliency to effectively dislodgedandruff, dust, and scaly matter from the hair and from the scalp. Thebase 2 is also provided wit-h a number of openings 4, which extend inthe direction of the projections and from the outer to the inner face ofsaid base. The openings 4 may be, like the projections, arranged whollyor partially through the length of the base, and they may be separatedfrom one another at any desired intervals. their location, however,being so selected that they open between adjacent teeth of the comb. Theopenings at are preferably arranged along the longitudinal center of thebase and of the projections 3, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3. Theside walls of the case are preferably connected by a centrally locatedtransverse web 5 which is preferably integral with said side walls andwith the base, but is of less depth than the case, said web serving as areinforcement for the case and also serving to maintain the side wallsthereof properly spaced, whereby the case may be conveniently fittedupon the comb. In the embodiment shown, the openings 4 are arranged onlyat one side of the web 5, but they may, if desired, be arranged at bothsides thereof, as is obvious.

In use, the case is fitted to the toothed portion of the comb andengages frictionally thereon. The comb is connected to the suction pumpand the operator, grasping the handle of the comb for the purpose ofmanipulation, vigorously moves the case backwardly and forwardly untilthe Whole area of the scalp has been treated, at the same timemaintaining a pressure on the scalp which is suitable to insure theefficient action of the device. As the case is thus rubbed over thescalp, its projections 3 effectively dislodge dandruff and scaly matterfrom the scalp and the dandruff and scaly matter so dislodged is drawnthrough the openings 4 into the interior of the case, and then throughthe openings in the teeth of the comb into the interior of the latter,being carried away to a suitable collecting device.

The comb is indicated by dotted lines with suflicient clearness to showits relation to the case. Not only does the case assist in the cleaningof the hair and the scalp in the manner described, but it also serves,when used at sufiiciently frequent intervals, to assist in maintainingthe scalp in a healthy condition, since its action is somewhat similarto that of a massage device.

The case may be readily removed from as is obvious.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a case for combs composed offlexible rubber and having a transverse central partition integral withits side walls and its base and adapted to be received between theadjacent teeth of the comb, the base being provided with openings andwith integral projections.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a case for combs which. is shaped toconformably and snugly fit over the teeth portion of a comb and whichincludes a base that H I extends across the ends of the teeth of thecomb and is provided with flexible projections.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing I witnesses.

DUNCAN L. EDWARDS. Witnesses:

W. W. KERR, W. E. JoHNsoN, Jr.

Copies of this patent may he obtained. for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

